SCIENCE EDUCATION

The philosophy of the B.Sc. (Ed) programme in Science Education is to imbue students with the appropriate pedagogical skills, abilities and competences that would enable them teach the sciences and mathematics to secondary school students effectively and efficiently.

2.0 OBJECTIVES

The curriculum of the Department of Science Education has been designed for the purpose of training quality graduates in the field of Science Education leading to the award of Bachelor of Science Education Degrees. The programme has been structured to train graduates who will be interested in higher level research, provide manpower in the teaching profession and of course, help in meeting the technological needs of Taraba State and the country at large.

While in the programme, the department places emphasis both on the theory and sound practical understanding in various aspects of Science Education; and also education courses that will enhance effectiveness in the teaching profession. The Department of Science Education in conjunction with other departments in the university currently prepares professionally qualified graduate science teachers. Upon graduation, they are awarded the B.Sc. (Ed) degrees in their respective fields. In order to ensure professional and academic competence, the degree programmes have been planned in such a way that at least 60% of the courses required for graduation are taken from the candidates’ teaching subject Faculties and 40% from the Faculty of Education.

The Department runs the following programmes:

B.Sc. (Ed) Mathematics

(b) B.Sc. (Ed.) Chemistry

(c) B.Sc. (Ed.) Physics and

(d) B.Sc. (Ed.) Biology

(e) B.Sc. (Ed.) Statistics

(f) B.Sc. (Ed.) Integrated Science

(g) B.Sc. (Ed.) Agriculture

(h) B.Sc. (Ed.) Computer Science

The entry requirements for the programmes are tabulated below.

DIRECT AND UTME ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION INTO PROGRAMMES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE EDUCATION

Table 1: Admission Requirements

COURSE/UNIVERSITY/COURSE CODE

REQUIREMENTS

UTME SUBJECTS

SPECIAL CONSIDERATION (WAIVER) REMARKS

DIRECT ENTRY

UTME

B.Sc (Ed) Mathematics

Two ‘A’ level/NCE passes in Mathematics and one science subject

ii) IJMB or ND with Mathematics

Five SSCE Credit passes to include English Language, Mathematics plus one other science subject

Mathematics and two of the following subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Economics, Geography and Biology

B. Sc (Ed) Physics

i) NCE (Merit) in Physics and Education. Two ‘A’ level passes including Physics.

ii) IJMB or ND with Physics

Five SSCE Credit passes or T.C II Merit in five subjects including English Language, Mathematic and Physics.

ii) NCE with Credit or Merit passes in two relevant subjects including Chemistry.

iii) IJMB or ND with Chemistry.

Five SSCE Credit passes to include Mathematics, English Language and Chemistry.

Mathematics, Chemistry and one other Science subject.

B. Sc (Ed) Biology

i) NCE Merit passes in Biology and Education

ii) ‘A’ level passes in Biology and any other relevant subject.

iii) IJMB or ND with Biology

Five SSCE Credit passes in Biology, Mathematics and English Language.

Mathematics, Biology and any other Science Subject.

B. Sc (Ed) Computer Science

i) Two ‘A’ level passes in Mathematics and Physics/NCE Merit in Computer.

ii) ND in Computer/ Information Science.

Five SSCE Credits to include English Language, Mathematics and Physics.

Mathematics, Physics and any other Science Subject.

B.Sc. (Ed) Agricultural Science

i) Two ‘A’ passes/NCE Merit level passes which should include Agricultural Science

ii) IJMB or ND with Agricultural Science.

Five SSCE Credit passes to include English Language, Chemistry, Biology/ Agric. Science and Mathematics.

Mathematics, Chemistry and one of Biology and Agricultural Science.

B. Sc. (Ed) Statistics

Two ‘A’ level/NCE passes in Mathematics/Statistics and one science subject

ii) IJMB or ND with Mathematics/ Statistics.

Five SSCE Credit passes to include English Language, Mathematics plus one other science subject.

Mathematics and two of the following subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Economics, Geography and Biology.

B. Ed. Integrated Science

i) NCE Integrated Science

ii) NCE Science Education

iii)GCE ‘A’ Level passes in two Science Subjects

ii) IJMB or ND in the relevant sciences

Five SSCE Credit passes to include English Language, Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry.

Any three of Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Agric Science.

4.0 REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION

4.1 Duration of Regular Programme

UME applicants are offered the four-year programme (100-400), the direct entry applicants are allowed a three year programme (200 -400 Level). The maximum period allowed a student to remain on a programme under the four year system is six years (i.e. 150% of the normal duration of four years) and that of direct entry is four years.

4.2 Award of Bachelor’s Degree:

To qualify for the award of a Bachelor’s degree, a candidate shall satisfy the following conditions:

Must have passed all required courses as prescribed for the degree programme and earned a Cumulative Grade point Average (CGPA) of at least 1.00.

4.3 Total Minimum Credit Unit to Graduate:

Although the National Universities Commission (NUC) recommends a minimum of 120 credit units to be passed by a student to earn a degree in the Faculty of Education, a minimum of 144 credit units are required for the award of the various degrees of this Department for the four year programme and 108 credit units for the direct entry candidates.

4.4 Teaching Practice:

To be awarded a degree in the Faculty of Education, a student must successfully complete a period of supervised teaching practice to last for at least twelve weeks. This course is of special significance to the students of the Department of Science Education who are being trained as professional teachers of science and science based subjects. This exercise is normally scheduled to take place after the completion of 300 level. Students are to make arrangement to sponsor themselves for this exercise.

4.5 Research project:

In order to graduate, all students are required to complete a research project on an approved topic under the supervision of staff and submit four bound copies at the stipulated time. Guidelines on project writing are provided to help students in this exercise.